There’s something truly magical about stepping into a space that just feels right - like the scent in the air, the textures on the walls, and the energy of the room are all conspiring to slow you down and invite you into a more intentional way of being. That’s exactly what you’ll find at Mugwort & Mistletoe, a newly opened spiritual shop and wellness space in the heart of Ipswich.
Image courtesy of All About Ipswich
Run by the wonderful Moss and Aimee, the shop is already becoming a vibrant hub for the local pagan and spiritual community. It’s full of carefully chosen handmade goods, spell supplies, and independent maker creations (including a few of mine!), and there’s also a beautiful space for practitioners to hold workshops, readings, and other offerings. It’s a place that honours craft, connection, and community.
I caught up with Moss to find out more about the story behind Mugwort & Mistletoe - from Moss’s personal journey, to the artists they stock, and the deep ties between East Anglia and the magical.
What inspired you to open Mugwort & Mistletoe? Was there a particular moment or need that sparked the idea?
"The moment Mugwort & Mistletoe was born as a concert was the moment our friends, who have run our local esoteric shop for over 30 years, told me they were going to retire. I was immediately struck by the huge loss this would present to our community - and the idea was planted!
As I considered the idea of running a shop, something I’d never thought of before, I knew straight away that I wanted to share the experience with my dear friend and creative powerhouse, Aimee - and, lucky for me, she agreed!"
Can you tell me a bit about your own spiritual or creative path - what brought you to this point?
"I’ve been pagan since 2001 (though even as a kid, the signs were there - I just didn’t have a name for it). I’ve previously called myself a ‘witch’ and a ‘druid’, but I’m leaning more towards ‘animist’ now. My path is radical and queer, and founded in nature, reciprocity, prehistory, and the ancestors. A growing interest in ancestral crafts has reawakened my creativity through spinning and weaving, and I’ve woven my spirituality and creativity together over the years - making magical charms and maintaining a strong relationship with tree and plant allies."
How did the two of you meet, and what made you decide to take this leap and open a shop together?
"Aimee and I met through FCBD Style Bellydance when she joined my group many years ago. We still perform together, but the dance led us to form a Druidic Grove and organise the Gippeswick Pagan Gathering, now in its 8th year.
As I’ve said, as soon as I started thinking about the shop, I knew it was a journey I wanted to share with Aimee. We work very differently, but that somehow makes us wonderfully compatible - a fab team. When I approached Aimee with the idea, we both felt it was the right thing at the right time for us, and everything has just flowed since then."
Image courtesy of Mugwort & Mistletoe
How would you describe the feeling or atmosphere you’re trying to create in the shop? What do you hope people will feel when they walk through the door?
"I absolutely love that you asked this, as it’s very important to us. Many people comment on how peaceful it feels and the pleasant energy the shop has. We always say that it takes hard work to create that feeling, and this is reflected in the fact that the very first thing we did when we got the keys was create our shop altar and set our intentions for the space. We attend to our altar daily to cleanse the space and reaffirm our hope for Mugwort & Mistletoe as a safe space where people can reconnect with nature and themselves as part of it. While preparing the shop, I pulled a card that strongly portrayed our desire for the shop to be a sanctuary in the heart of town - and this is truly how it feels."
Your shop is in a beautiful Grade II listed building - do you know much about its history, or has the age and energy of the place influenced the space you’ve created?
"Yes, we know a fair bit about our beautiful building. Half of it is 15th century, and the other half is 16th century. It was originally a lodge, later part of a tavern, was a temporary home to the retinue of Henry VIII on a visit, has Roman and Medieval tiles in the basement, and by the 18th century was a chemist for over 150 years. Many visitors come believing the building to be the birthplace of Cardinal Wolsey (which was actually opposite us), marked by a huge statue of him just over the road. It seems to be the only remaining building with a Tudor post by the front doors, and it was most recently a community hub. We knew on sight that this was the building for us and that we wanted our aesthetic to fit its character. We believe the smell of the ancient timber-beamed ceiling adds a lot to the atmosphere, and we are proud caretakers of a building so important to our town."
Image courtesy of Ipswich Museums.
How do you go about choosing the artists and makers you stock? Is there a certain energy or ethos you’re drawn to?
"We are passionate about small businesses and handcrafted things. We like to support local makers wherever possible and are definitely drawn to like-minded people who are passionate about their creations. Our offerings are very earthy, so we tend to leave overly cutesy or ‘love and light’ items to other shops. Aimee is a creative genius, too, so our suppliers are also shaped by the wide range of things she can make herself, along with the few things I can contribute. We are both vegan and have strong ethics around authentic objects crafted with love."
Why is it important to you to support handmade and independently created goods - especially in a spiritual context?
"Quite honestly, it’s who we are, above and beyond anything else. Our town is awash with chain stores, so it feels important to offer something completely different. From a spiritual perspective, we both honour the Earth in our practices. Rather than promoting mindless over-consumption, our offerings represent our vision for a better world - one based on compassion, craft, and reciprocity with nature and each other, rather than greed. Handmade objects are imbued with the energy of the maker, I believe, so surely something made from natural materials and/or made with love is preferable. For me, how we move through the world matters deeply. Being intentional with who and what we support with our money, and what we bring into our homes and use to adorn ourselves, carries great significance and has repercussions on the world around us. Lastly, we want to support real people with skills, rather than machines and soulless corporations."
What has the response from the local community been like so far?
"We’ve been so blown away by the wonderful and positive response from our community. It’s not just local pagans and witchy types who wish us well - local businesses, our local paper, tourists, and a wide range of locals have congratulated us and been so supportive. There have been a couple of people who don’t agree with what we’re doing, but we expected that from the start, and it doesn’t in any way dim our joy at the resounding encouragement we’ve received. As I mentioned above, I think people can see that we’re doing something different - something with integrity. Local people are just glad to see a new small business opening instead of another pound shop, etc."
East Anglia has such deep roots in folklore, witchcraft, and pagan history - how has the local landscape or its stories influenced your work and vision for the shop?
"Oof, this is a tough question, because folklore and history are the land, and we are of these lands. Certainly, the prehistory of these lands is of key importance to Aimee and me, particularly the Iron Age and the fact that we are on Trinovantes land - the bordering Iron Age tribe to Boudicca’s Iceni. The importance of horses to these peoples is how we personally embody the sovereignty of the land, and this is boosted by the legacy of the Suffolk Punch. Aimee and I are always sharing folklore snippets with each other and have both studied the history of the Witch Trials and the legacy of Matthew Hopkins, Witchfinder General, in this area.
The lands around the Anglo-Saxon sacred site of Sutton Hoo are important ancestral lands, and we are both deeply connected to our local spring, which we tend. Aimee, through her involvement with Boudicca Border Morris, has introduced the Morris ‘Oss tradition to our local events, and we’re discussing expanding that to include the Black Shuck, another key piece of local lore. All of these facets, and so many more, are threads woven through the Mugwort & Mistletoe ethos.
We are working with local corndolly makers, making our own folk magic charms, are working on a secret project to celebrate our links with Boudicca, sell books about folklore and history, and are planning to host folklore events. To me, these things - folklore, witchcraft, and paganism - are the people’s history and practices, and this is what Mugwort & Mistletoe represents: a living tradition inspired by our lands, near and far."
'Boudicea Haranguing the Britons' by John Opie, 1793.
Do you have any long-term hopes or dreams for Mugwort & Mistletoe? How do you see it evolving over time?
"It’s really interesting to reflect that, as a serial long-term planner, my thinking for Mugwort & Mistletoe is very much focused on the present. I’ve recently realised that I can be prone to having an idea and slavishly working towards it without stopping to check if it’s actually the right thing for right now. This is one of the many things I’ve already learned from the shop. Also, Aimee is wonderful at being in the present and keeping her focus on the here and now, so she helps balance me out. There are many more amazing craftspeople and events we want to incorporate, and personally, I dream of offering some of my handwoven pieces, which I’m now learning to make. We are working on plans to be the home for a tight-knit spiritual circle/coven that meets regularly, but that still needs time to bubble in the cauldron. Honestly, it currently feels like there is no end or limit to our dreams and vision for the shop, but as long as we’re offering a wisdom and wellness space at the heart of our community, I know we will be over the moon!"
Image courtesy of Mugwort & Mistletoe.
It’s been such a joy to witness the beginnings of Mugwort & Mistletoe and see the care, spirit, and community woven into every corner of the shop. Whether you’re local to Ipswich or just passing through, I’d wholeheartedly recommend stopping by to soak up the energy, browse the handmade treasures, and connect with kindred souls.
You can find them at:
47 St. Nicholas Street
Ipswich
IP1 1TW
Don’t forget to follow them on social media for updates, events, and more magical happenings!